Change-making machine.



F. A. NLEIVIANN. CHANGE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-9,19%.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

IN ENTER F. A NIEMANN.

CHANGE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

WITNESSES:

F. A. NIEMANN.

CHANGE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9, 19M.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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F. A. NIEMANN.

' CHANGE MAKING MACHINE.

the result that a i p rr'wmn mm i WT thrill) whittled?) FREDERICK A. NIEMELN'N, @F CHEGAGD, ILLINUIES, ASEIG-NOFPE. 'ltl KEANE, @F SHICAGQ, ELLINUIS,

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@HANGE-MAKING MACHINE,

222 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 9, wi l. Serial No. 87 1,1355.

To all whom it may cot metro:

Be it known that I, Fnnonnlon A. NIE- MANN, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Change'Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for making change, and particularly to machines suitable for use in situations Where the amount or the purchase is a fixed unit, or a multiple thereof, as is the case at theaters selling seats at a uniform price, or with street railroads charging the passengers a constant fare per ride; the fixed unit representing,

of course, a single ticket, admission or fare, and the multiple thereof the purchase of a number of tickets, admissions or fares, in one transaction. My invention contemplates a 'machine which will deliver the exact amount of change for any transaction, determined, in each case, first, upon theamount tendered by'the purchaser, and second, by the number of unit values of his purchase, by the manipulation, for each transaction, of a single operating member, the several operating members bearing designations or being an ranged so that the operator may readily se lectthe appropriate one. While a machine constructed on this principle has a limited utility, since it does not possess the capacity which ordinary change makers have of subtracting any purchase amount from any amount tendered and delivering the. right v change, Within its own field my machine has the very considerable advantage of simplicity both in construction and in operation. in the matter of construction it is cheaper to manufacture and smaller in size than the ordinary change making machines, -and is much more durable and less likely'to get out of order. So far as operation is concerned, it may be manipulated much more rapidly and certainly. The'mental factor in the op eration is simplified in the last degree, with mistake is practically impossible.

My invention has for its principal ob ect to provide a change making machine having the above stated characteristics and capabilities The invention has for further objects to provide certain novel features of construction suitable particularly for a machine operating upon this principle but susceptible, no doubt, of use in connection with change making machines of a different type.-

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings in Which Figure l is a front elevation of a change making machine designed for a purchase value unit of ten cents and multiples of the same up to four.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of this machine.

Figs. 3, a and 5, views, in perspective, of three difi'erent types of coin ejecting slides employed in the machine;

Fig. 6, a sectional view taken on lined-b of Fig. 1;-

Fig. 7 a fragmental sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8, a view, in aerspective, of the base of the machine, and

Fig. 9, a similar View of the trough which receives the coins when ejected from the coin rece tacles.

Li e characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referringto the drawings, 10 is a base plate supported by and preferably formed integrally with end wall. members ll and back wall member 12, a space 13 intervening between the rear edge of the base and the back wall member 12. Arranged on the structure 10, 11, 12, is a casting 14 so as to provide a plurality of coin receptacles designated AtO L inclusive, respectively, of suitable diameter for coins of difierent denomination, and preferably open in front so that the coin stacks Within the same are visible to the operator. The coin receptacles are substantially upright, so that the coins feed down by gravity, but may have a slight 1 they are intended to receive and according to the number of coins which are ejected at one operation.

The coins are ejected from the coin receptacles or rather, strictly speaking, from the recesses 18 in the base plate under the coin receptacles, by means of coin ejecting slides designated a to Z respectively, in correspondence with the lettering of the coin receptacles. Each slide is provided with an operating member or finger piece 19 preferably bearing a numeral indicating (except in the case of slide a, as will be hereinafter explained) the denomination of the coin tendered by the purchaser for whi 3h change is to be returned. In a machine designed for purchase value units of ten cents these slides are of four different types (Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive). The. construction of the slides designated d, g, j and Z being the same as that of slides 12, e, i and 70, except that the parts are reversed.

The receptacle A contains a stack of five cent pieces. The slide a ejects these five cent pieces singly from the receptacle. The receptacle B also contains five cent pieces which are ejected three at a time by slide b. The receptacle G contains quarter of a dollar pieces which are ejected singly. The receptacle D contains half dollars ejected singly, the receptacle E five cent pieces ejected singly, the receptacle F quarters ejected singly, the receptacle G also quarters ejected two at a time, the receptacle H nickels ejected singly, the receptacle I dimes ejected two at a time, the receptacle J half dollars ejected oneat a time, the receptacle-K dimes ejected one at a time, and the receptacle L quarters ejected two at a time. The reason for providin for the ejection of quarters two at a time instead of halves one at a time is to balance the disbursement of these denominations asnearly as possible'i'vith the receipt of the same. With a ten cent purchase value the probabilities are that a -much larger number of quarters Will be received than halves.

this reason, halves might just as well be de livered.

The further description of the construction of the parts of the machine had better be postponed until a brief statement of the operation is made. The operation is as follows:

The slides (exceptslide a), are divided into four roups, the slides b, 0 and d constituting t e first group, designated by the numeral 1 on a subdivided area 20 of the front piece 21 of the machine, and are employed for making change as against a single purchase unit value, that is, to take a concrete case, where a single ticket is purchased. The second group of slides e, f and g, designated by the numeral 2 on the area 22,

Hence the machine is designated to deliver quarters in places where, except for make change when two tickets are purchased. The third group, designated 3 on the area 23, consisting of slides h, and j, makes the change on the purchase of three tickets. Similarly, the fourth group, designated 4 on the area 24, consisting of slides and Z,-make the change for a purchase of four tickets.

If the purchaser buying a single ten cent ticket tenders a quarter, the operator forces slide 6, the finger piece ofwhich is plainly marked 25. Three five cent pieces are ejected from coin receptacle B. If the purchaser tenders a half dollar the operator pushes slide 0, which is marked 50, and ejects a twenty-five cent piece from the receptacle C. The slide 0 is formed with a lug 25 which engages a lug 26 on slide b. Therefore when slide 0 is manipulated slide 6 is moved with it and ejects three five cent pieces, making in all forty cents, the correct change for half a dollar. If the urchaser tenders one dollar slide d, which is marked 100, is manipulated, ejecting a half dollar from receptacle D. Slide cl is formed with a lug 27 which engages a lug 28 on slide 0.

The manipulation of slide (Z, therefore, operates slides a and b, ejecting from receptacle C and B one quarter and three five cent pieces, making in all ninety cents, the correct change from one dollar.

If the purchaser buys two tickets and tenders a quarter the operator presses in slide a of the group marked 2, this slide bearing the indication 25. A five cent piece is ejected from receptacle E. Slidese, f and 9 correspond in construction to slides 71, c and d, respectively so that if a fifty cent piece is tendered for two tickets the operator, by manipulating slide f, ejects thirty. cents, a quarter from receptacle F' and a nickel from receptacle E, and if a dollar is tendered the operator, bymanipulating slide g, marked 100, ejects eighty cents, two quarters from receptacle G, one quarter from receptacle Rand a nickel from receptacle E.

If the purchaser buys three tickets and tenders thirty-five cents, a quarter and a ten cent piece, for example, the operator presses slide it which ejects a nickel from receptacle H. If the purchaser tenders fifty cents for the three tickets, slide 2' is manipulated to eject two dimes from receptacle 1. There is no connection between slides 2' and h as the exact change can be made from the dime receptacle I. If the purchaser tenders adollar, slide j is manipulated, this slide having a lug 27 engaging a lug 28 on slide 2', with the result that seventy cents change is elivered, one half dollar from receptacle J and two dimes from receptacle I.

If the purchaser wishes four tickets and gives a half dollar, slide is is manipulated to eject one dime from receptacle K. If he Ell till

tenders a dollar, slide Z is manipulated deliver two quarters receptacle L and one dime :t'rcm receptacle ll, the slides 3, it having the same relation to each other slides j and i.

will be recognised that my inve is not limited to any particular par value unit or any particular numbmultiples 01 such unit. The niachin might be designed for a live cent ticket or nor desired purchase value unit or series of multiple units. This would, of course, necessitate a different interrelation between the slides and a different division between the slides into groups but not any change in the principles of construction and operation the machine.

The receptacle A and its ejecting slide a constitute an additional device for making change in the case of half units, for example, if halt fares or half rate tickets are sold. If the purchaser wishes a single halt ticket and tenders a dime the operator, by manipulation of slide a, ejects a nickel from the receptacle A. If the purchaser tenders a quarter the operator presses in the quarter slide 1) of the one ticket group and also the half rate ticket slide a which gives twenty cents in change. Similar operations are performed by means of slides 0 and d in connection with slide a in case the purchaser tenders fifty cents for a single ticket.

If the purchaser buys two tickets, one a full ten cent ticket and the other a five cent ticket, the operator presses in the appropriate slide of the two ticket group and also live cent ticket slide a. The operation is strictly analogous in case three or door tickets are purchased, one of which is a half value ticket.

The coins, when ejected, fall into a trough 29 arranged directly under the space 13 at the back edge of the base 10, and are conducted into a cup 30 at the front side of the machine within-easy reach of the operator.

The slides a, b and 0, etc, are preferably formed of sheet metal pressed so that they are provided with pairs of flanges 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35, 36. These flanges are guided in the pairs of slots 15,16 in the base. The

intermediate slots 17 have'springs 37 which 1 are attached at one end to a rod 38 extending across the machine from side to side, and at the other to lugs 39 formed on the slides. The flanges 31, 3t, 36 are formed with teeth 40 constituting, in each case, racks adapted to be engaged by dogs l1 occupying enlargements 42 of one or other ot the slots 15 or 16, as the case may be, the dogs being notched at 43 and pivoted on i a rod ll against which they are pressed by springs 45. The dogs prevent the retraction of the slides until their forward movements have been completed. t some such device were not employed the slide might be pushed halt r on 0 its norn dog so as to tilt dog ha engaging position.

The coin receptacles are preferably open in front so that the operator can keep watch of the supply of coins therein and replenish the same when necessary. ln order to prevent the possibility of the machi c delivering short change the coin receptacles from which two or more coins are delivered at one operation, and the receptacles, the slides of which have interengaging relationship, may be provided, in each case, with a follower 50 (Fig. 6) having a handle 51 projecting through the opening in the receptacle at the front. It, as shown in '6, three coins are intended to be delivered from the receptacle at one operation, and there are only two coins inlthe receptacle, or it there be but one, the follower, by assuming the dotted position, will prevent the manipu lation of the slide, ejecting coins from this receptacle. If followers of this sort are used in receptacles, the slides of which are engaged one by the other, the followers will operate similarly to prevent the manipula tion of the selected slide it any of the coin receptacles corresponding with the interrelated slides have become emptied or contain. a less number of coins than are intended be ejected at one operation.

While I have described my invention as embodied in certain preferred; arrangements, it will be understood that modifications might be devised without departure from the principles of the invention' Therefore, I do not wish to be understood limiting the invention to the particular arrangements, constructions and devices shown and do scribed except so far as the claims distinc" specify such limiting features.

I claim:

1. In a change making machine, the cor bination with a plurality of receptacles ii r coins, of a plurality of channel-shaped slides provided with racks and adapted to be manipulated beneath said receptacles so as to eject coins therefrom, and means adapted to engage said racks to prevent the retraction of said slides until the forward movement of said slides has been completed.

2. In a change making machine, the combination with a base member formed with parallel slot-s terminating in coin recesses,

ward movements of the same have been completed, comprising a pivoted pawl arranged in one of said slots adapted to engage said rack during said forward movement.

3. In a change making machine, the c0mbination with a base formed with a pair of parallel slots, of a substantially upright coin receptacle arranged at one extremity of the slots, a coin ejecting slide having flanges projecting into said slots, the end of which slide engages and ejects a coin from the lower end of the coin stack in said receptacle.

4. In a change making machine, the combination with a base formed with a pair of parallel slots, of a substantially upright coin receptacle arranged at one extremity of the slots, a coin ejecting slide having flanges projecting into said slots, the end of which slide engages and ejects a coin from the lower end of the coin stack in said receptacle, one of said flanges being formed with a rack, a dog adapted to engage said rack on the forward stroke of the slide, and means on the slide which moves the dog out of operative engagement with the rack when the slide has completed its forward stroke.

5. In a change making machine the combinationwith a base formed with a pair of parallel slots, of a substantially upright coin receptacle arrangedat one extremity of the slots, a coin ejecting slide having flanges projecting into said slots, the end of which slide engages and ejects a coin from the lower end of the coin stack in said 'receptacle. one of said flanges being formed with a rack, a dog adapted to engage said rack on the forward stroke of the slide, and means on the slide which moves the dog out end of the coin stack in said receptacle, and

a spring engaged atone end with said base and at the other with said slide which lies in the third slot.

7. In a change making machine, the combination with a base formed With a pair of parallel slots terminating at one end in a coin recess, of a substantially upright receptacle arranged over said recess, and a coin ejecting slide having flanges projecting into said slots, the end of which slide engages and ejects a coin from said recess.

8. A coin ejecting slide for change making machines comprising a channel-shaped sheet metal element provided with a finger piece.

9. In a change making machine, the combination with a coin ejecting slide comprising a channel-shaped sheetmetal element provided with a finger piece and formed with a rack on one of its flanges of a springactuated pivot member adapted to engage said rack.

10. In a change making machine,'the combination with a base formed with a plurality of parallel slots, of a plurality of coin receptacles positioned over said base, and coin ejecting slides formed with flanges which extend into said slots so as to guide the movement of the slides, said slides being' formed with laterally extending, co-engaging lugs whereby the manipulation of certain of the slides produces operative movements in others of the same.

FREDERICK A. NIEMANN. lVitncsses:

L. A. FALKENBERG, G. Y. SKINNER. 

